Business Development Manager - U.S. Navy / PAE RAS
Privateer
Location: Hybrid - Chantilly, VA / Herndon, VA / Washington, DC Metro Area
Travel: 25–40%
Clearance: Active Secret required; TS/SCI strongly preferred
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried
ABOUT US
Orbital Insight, a wholly owned subsidiary of Privateer Space, leverages geospatial data, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence to transform vast volumes of data into actionable intelligence for government and commercial customers. Our platforms fuse data from land, sea, air, and space to enable mission-critical insights across defense, intelligence, maritime security, and infrastructure monitoring.
Through technologies such as TerraScope and other data fusion platforms, we deliver operational awareness and analytics that support national security missions including maritime domain awareness, autonomous systems, and multi-INT analytics.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a Business Development Manager focused on the U.S. Navy ecosystem, with particular emphasis on:
- Office of Naval Research (ONR)
- PAE Unmanned and Small Combatants / PAE RAS
- Navy innovation organizations, warfare centers, and program offices supporting autonomy, maritime ISR, and multi-domain sensing.
This role will lead growth initiatives across Navy and Marine Corps stakeholders, identifying and shaping opportunities that leverage Privateer and Orbital Insight capabilities in maritime domain awareness, autonomous systems, and geospatial intelligence analytics.
The BD Manager will develop and execute capture strategies, build customer relationships, and coordinate across internal teams to position the company for program wins.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Business Development & Pipeline Development
- Identify, qualify, and shape new opportunities within the U.S. Navy acquisition and innovation ecosystem.
- Maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline aligned with Navy, ONR, and PAE RAS mission priorities.
- Develop and execute capture strategies for new programs, prototypes, and production opportunities.
Customer Engagement
- Build and maintain relationships with Navy program offices, ONR program managers, warfare centers, and innovation organizations.
- Engage technical and operational stakeholders to identify mission problems that align with company capabilities.
- Represent the company at Navy industry events, technical demonstrations, and capability briefings.
Opportunity Shaping & Capture
- Lead early engagement on opportunities including SBIR/STTR, OTA prototypes, RDT&E efforts, and program-of-record transitions.
- Coordinate with engineering and product teams to align solutions with Navy operational requirements.
- Support proposal development including win themes, teaming strategies, and pricing inputs.
Strategic Growth
- Collaborate with company leadership to develop and refine Navy-focused go-to-market strategies.
- Monitor Navy budget lines, program roadmaps, and emerging mission priorities in areas such as autonomy, ISR, and maritime sensing.
- Develop partnerships with complementary technology vendors and integrators.
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
A high-energy business development professional with a deep understanding of the Naval innovation and acquisition ecosystem and a proven track record growing defense technology programs.
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Proven success identifying and closing new business opportunities in DoD or Navy markets.
- Strong relationships with ONR, PAE RAS, Naval warfare centers, or Navy program offices.
- Experience shaping early-stage opportunities such as SBIR, OTA, R&D, and prototype programs.
- Ability to translate technical capabilities into mission value for operational stakeholders.
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills, including experience briefing senior military and government leadership.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field.
- 7+ years of business development, capture, or program growth experience in defense markets.
- Demonstrated experience working with U.S. Navy organizations or ONR programs.
- Strong understanding of DoD acquisition pathways, including SBIR, OTA, and traditional FAR programs.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
- Active Secret clearance preferred; TS/SCI strongly preferred.
- Must be located in or willing to relocate to the Washington, DC metro area.